Gyroscopic transmission apparatus.



J. HEUX.

GYROSCOPICIRANSMISSION APPARATUS. APPLICATION HLED MAR. 1a. 1911.

1 12 593, Patented. NW. 30, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- J. FIEUX.

GYROSCOPIC TRANSMISSION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18,191].

. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GYROSCOPIC TRANSMISSION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HL'ED MAR. 18. 1911.

3 $HEETS-SHEET 3- ,593, Patented. Nov. 30, 1915.

@TATEd PATENTQFFIQE.

JEAN FIEUX, O1 HARFLEUR, FRANCE.

GYROSCOTPIC TRANSMISSION APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JEAN FIEUX, a citizen of the French Republic,residing at 19 Rue Gambetta, Harfieur, France, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Gyroscopic Transmission Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for transmitting motion from adriving element to a driven element through the intermediary of agyroscopic structure, utilizing the gyroscopic force thereof as a meansfor transmitting the motion of one element to the other.

In the present invention the various parts of the transmission apparatusincluding the gyroscopic structure are of improved construction ofarrangement, and novel means are provided for rotating the gyroscope inits supporting frame, means also being provided for varying theinclination of the longitudinal axis of said support in relation to theaxis of the driven shaft for the purposes hereinafter described.

It is one of the objects of my present 1nyention to provide such anapparatus having an improved arrangement of mounting and supporting thegyroscope in its frame and of connecting the latter to the intermediatemember or shaft to which variable oscillatory impulses are imparted bythe action of the gyroscopic structure oscillating on its axis.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved locking orconnecting device for use with the apparatus whereby the driven shaftwill receive in the same direction all of the impulses alternately givenin the one and the other direction by the oscillatory intermediatemember or shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide the apparatus withimproved means for positively driving the gyroscopic wheel and wherebyits rotation may be varied for the purpose of modifying the power oftransmission. from the driving to the driven shaft.

Finally my invention also includes means for directly utilizing theoscillatory impulses of the intermeclate member for obtaining analternating or intermittent movement whereby the apparatus is especiallyadapted to certain types of machinery.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure l is a sideelevation partly in section and discloses details of con- Speciflcationof Letters Patent.

Application filed March 18, 1911.

Patented-Nov. 30 1915.

Serial No. 615,306.

struction showing a driving and a driven element operatively connectedby a gyroscopic structure embodying my invention and also disclosingelectrical connections appertaining thereto diagrammaticallyrepresented. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing a modified form of myinvention. Fig. 3 shows an arrangementin which the change of speed isobtained by the inclination of the axis of the frame to the axis of thedriving shaft. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a modified means forrotating the flywheel of the gyroscopic structure. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of a device similar to that shown in Fig. 2 and illustratesthe improved arrangement and manner of mounting the wheel of thegyroscopic structure in its frame inrelation to the driving and drivenshafts, and of connecting thereto the. oscillatory intermediate member.Fig. 6 shows the combination of an ordinary difierential gearing and acoupling system for assuring the connection of the oscillatoryintermediate shaft. Fig. 7 shows an arrangement for permitting ofobtaining from the oscillatory impulses of the intermediate member analternating or intermittent movement more particularly suitable for thecontrol of certain parts of machines without the use of any couplingsystem of gear wheels; Fig. 8 shows the improved means for positivelydriving the gyroscopic structure and for modifying its power oftransmission by modifying its speed of rotation.

In general, the invention consists of the combination of a drivingelement such as a shaft and a driven element such as another shaft witha gyroscopic structure being interpos ed and operatively connected withsaid elements and having the axis of rotation ofthe flywheel extendingcrosswise to the axis of the drivin and driven elements. By impartingrotation to the flywheel of the gyroscopic structure and rotating thelatter from the driving shaft, it is obvious that a gyroscopic force isdeveloped providing a yieldalole or flexible coupler between the drivingand driven shaft.

Particularly referring to Fig. 1, 5 designates a driving shaft and 6 adriven shaft motion being imparted from one to the other through theintermediacy of a gyroscopic structure 2. This gyroscopic structureincludes a frame 2 pivotally connected at .one end, as at 3, to acounterbalanced crank 4. secured to the driving shaft 5, and

. the point of connection 3 connecte at the other end diametrically oposite to d y a universal joint 7 to the driven shaft 6. A flywheel liscarried by the frame 2 having its axis of rotation perpendicular to theaxis of the connections 3 and. 7. Rotation is imparted to the flywheel 1by any suitable means for instance such as by electric conductors p and11., an armature a being mounted on the shaft of the flywheel 1. Thearmature is provided with a commutator 1 and brushes 1 in the usual wellknown manner and a source of electric energy G is provided in connectionwith the conductors p and n. The shaft 6 is carried by a suitable suport 8 and isprovided with a ratchet mec anism 9 to normally prevent theshaft from rotation in the wrong direction. The shaft 6 is also providedwith a friction brake 10 serving to instantly stop the same, and aratchet mechanism 12 is provided for transmitting the motion of saidshaft 6 to a driven element 11.

Particularly referring to Fig. 2, a fly-' wheel 13 and frame 14 aresupported by a swivel joint 15 so that the frame 14 may receive compoundoscillatory movement on account of its pivotal connection to a crank 16secured to the driving shaft 17. At its free end opposite to the crank16 the frame 14 is connected by a universal joint 20 to a link 19. Auniversal joint 21 connects this link 19 to the driven shaft 18supported as shown at 22 and provided with ratchet mechanisms 24 and 23corresponding to the ratchet mechanisms 9 and 12, respectively,illustrated in Fig. 1. The flywheel may be rotated by an electric motoras described in connection with Fig. 1 or any suitable well knownmechanism may be used for this purpose. As shown in Fig. 4 a frictionroller 25 operates on a track 26, the former transmitting its rotarymotion to the flywheel 27 by means '0 coa'cting beveled rollers 28. Inorder to 'vary the transmitting power of the gyroscopic structure, thespeed of rotation.

of the flywheel may be varied, by increasing or decreasing theelectrical current throu h the rheostat 7' in case a motor is used, orby relative actual movement of the beveled friction roller 25 withrespect to its track when such frictiontransmitting means is used.

Fig. 3 shows means for changing the inclination of the gyroscopic framewith respect to the axis of the driving element and in this figure, 29is a bearing .pivotally connecting the frame of the gyroscopic structureto a link 30, the latter being pivotally connected to a collar 31longitudlnally slidable on the driving shaft by a forked member 32 butrotatable therewith by its connection with said shaft.

The construction shown in Fig. 5 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2. Ithas the swinging center of the gyroscopic structure in substantially thecenter of gravity of the rotating mass, which is an advantage over thestructure represented in Fig. 2 as the device shown in Fig. 5 is morecondensed and of a much simpler construction. As shown in said figurethe flywheel 1 rotates in a frame 2 forming one of the 'coacting membersof a universal joint. A forked member 3 carried by a driven shaft 4 ispivoted to the frame 2' and a fork 5 pivoted at a right an 1e to theframe 2 receives movement of t e driving shaft 6 through a ,crank 8, apivoted connection 7 being interposed between the latter and the fork5",.

A shaft 4 can be formed integral with the driven element, in which casethe latter can acquire a rotary speed e ual to that of the driven shaftfrom the action of a single inipulse of the gyroscopic structure.

In the operation of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, the operation ofwhich is typical of the other forms herein illustrated,'when thegyroscopic member 1 is set in motion and the shaft 5 is rotated aprecessional movement of the frame 2 will result, the frame 2 eventhough it is moved will remain relatively stationary with respect to tiemember 4, due to the function of the gyroscopic member 1. This isbecause of the property of the gyroscope which, if the gyroscope isrotated with suflicient speed, Wlll maintain its own axis at rightangles to the axis of the member 7, thereby forming a practicallypositive driving connection oetween the shafts 5 and 6 through themedium of the gyroscopic member and frame 2, the result is that if theshaft 5 is rotated the shaft 6 will also be driven. However if the s eedof the gyrosco'pic member 1 is not su ciently great then as the shaft 5is rotated the frame 2 will tend, upon each rotation of the shaft 5, toturn through an angle of 180, thereby changing the relative position ofthe frame and the gyroscopic member with respect to the member 4; whichfact, will of course have the result of imparting an oscillatorymovement to the shaft 6. However the ratchet coupling member, in thisevent, may be so adjusted as to allow the shaft 6 to rotate only in thedirection desired, but not resulting in a continuous rotary movement,but in'an in- The brake 10 is rovided for stopping the motion of the shat 11 after the shaft 5 has ceased to rotate.

If the mass to be put in motion is of certain importance it is necessaryto employ the coupling system of the gearing described hereinbefore inconnection with the device shown in Fig. 1.

What I claim is:

1. In a gyroscopic transmitting device, the combination of a drivingshaft and a driven shaft with a gyroscopic' structure, having afly-wheel, an element, means for transmitting motion from said drivenshaft to said element, means for transmi ting rotary motion to itsfly-wheel, means operatively connecting said gyroscopic structure tosaid driving shaft and driven shaft for transmission of-motion, one tothe other, through the gyroscopic force obtained thereby, and meansadapted to resist the rotation of the driven shaft whereby the drivingshaft may rotate independently of the driven shaft and automaticallytransmit motion to said driven shaft upon the release of said rotationresisting means.

2. In a gyroscopic transmitting device, the combination of a drivingshaft and a driven shaft with a gyroscopic structure having a fiy-wheel,an element, a ratchet mechanism adapted to transmit motion from saiddriven shaft to said element, means for transmitting rotary motion tosaid flywheel, means operatively connectlng said gyroscopic structure tosaid driving shaft and driven shaft for transmission of motion, one

to the other, through the gyroscopic force obtained thereby, and a brakedevice for sald driven shaft and adapted to resist rotat1on thereof,whereby the driving shaft may rotate independently of the driven shaft,and automatically transmit motion upon release of said brake device tosaid driven shaft.

3. In a gyroscopic transmitting device, the combination of a drivingshaft and a driven shaft with a gyroscopic structure having a fly-wheel,an element, a ratchet mechanism adapted to transmit motion from saiddriven shaft to said element, a friction roller operating on a track,bevel gears upon one end of its axis meshing with a bevel gear of thefiy wheel, for transmitting rotary motion to said fly-Wheel, a crank anduniversal joint connection for operatively connecting said gyroscopicstructure to said driving shaft and driven shaft for transmission ofmotion, one to the other through the gyroscopic force obtained thereby,and a brake device for said driven shaft adapted to resist rotationthereof, whereby the driving shaft may rotate independently of thedriven shaft, and automatically transmit motion upon release of saidbrake device to said driven shaft.

in Witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

JEAN FIEUX.

Witnesses: I

Jenn Pnns'ron BEEGHER, C-oNs'rAN'r GUE'RARD.

